Having Survived Devastating Tragedy, Here’s How 9x NBA champion Steve Kerr Became One of the Most Decorated Figures in Sports History

NBA legend and current Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was one of the most recognizable names during the 90s. Having devoted 15 years of his life to the league as a player, Kerr has created a legacy that has recognized him as one of the most successful personalities to ever step foot on an NBA court.

The motivation and inspiration that led Kerr to achieve that success, however, was not a pleasant one. Revealing a lesser-known fact about the player, a Twitter user’s thread helps in educating NBA fans and enthusiasts about the 57-year-old.

Steve Kerr’s father stood for his beliefs and had to suffer the consequences

A Twitter user by the name of Frank Michael Smith is known for providing unknown facts about renowned NBA entities through his threads. It was barely a month ago when he highlighted how former Boston Celtics star Larry Bird had to take early retirement due to his back problems.

This time, Smith brought up the name of Steve Kerr. Using a long thread consisting of multiple tweets, Smith narrated a story of how a “devastating international tragedy” prompted the NBA champion to become the man he is today.

Smith highlighted how, during a press conference back in 2022, Kerr stated his opinion regarding the tragic Uvalde School shooting in Texas. The former Chicago Bulls guard asked the people “not to get complacent in the fight for better gun laws.” This passion developed in Kerr because of having firsthand experienced the devastation caused by guns.

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Featuring a photo of Kerr’s father, Malcolm, the post highlighted how he went on to become the president of the American University in Beirut. Unfortunately, this position was granted to him while the country was in the midst of the Lebanon War. Hiding Lebanese citizens in his dorm rooms during the assault by Israeli forces, Malcolm was a potential target of Islamic militant groups. Eventually, he was assassinated by one of the said groups.

Steve Kerr was a freshman at Arizona when the high-profile assassination of his father occurred. It made him remember how he and his father shared a love for basketball. The young aspiring player took it upon himself to carry that passion for both of them and become a world-renowned pro.

Malcolm’s death motivated Steve Kerr to follow what they both loved: Basketball

The thread concluded by stating that the tragedy motivated Smith to turn his game around in such a way that he would eventually go on to win 9 rings. Smith stated that this made him “one of the most decorated figures in NBA history”.

Playing alongside the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, BJ Armstrong, and many others, Kerr got to live a dream that so many others only get to experience in their mind.

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The foundation on which the 9x NBA champion began his journey was one that was built with tragedy. While losing their father may have crumbled others to dust, it only encouraged Kerr to rise up and make a name for himself. Through his renowned fame, Kerr has continued to take a stance against gun violence post-retirement. He will continue to do so while remembering the man who helped him start it all.